Ali Carter recovered from 2-0 down to beat Wang Yuchen 5-3 and secure qualification for the final stages of the Wuhan Open.
The Captain was runner-up in the inaugural event last season. He beat the likes of Mark Allen and Stuart Bingham to make the title match, but lost out 10-7 at the hands of Judd Trump.
Carter's place in Wuhan this year was under threat when he found himself two behind early on. However, breaks of 57, 135, 82 and 64 helped him to five out of the next six frames to emerge victorious.
Luca Brecel's early season woes continued with a 5-4 defeat against Welshman Duane Jones. Belgium's Brecel hasn't won a match since March, having lost in the first round to Si Jiahui in Shanghai.
The 2023 World Champion then had to concede his Xi'an Grand Prix qualifier to Hammad Miah after being stuck in traffic. Jones had trailed 4-3 this evening, but made breaks of 53 and 66 to take the last two frames and victory.
Tom Ford bowed out 5-3 at the hands of returning professsional Sunny Akani. Thailand's Akani clinched his win with a fine break of 102 in the eighth frame.
Ukraine's Iulian Boiko came through 5-4 against Manasawin Phetmalaikul, while Xing Zihao scored a shock 5-1 win against 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham.